10 Days Peru Voyage - General Information

Trip Style: Cultural - ArcheologicalAltitude:

Lima 1.550m

Nazca 590m

Arequipa 2.350m

Puno 3.830m

Cusco 3.326m

Sacred Valley 2.800m

Machu Picchu 2.430m

TemperaturePeru does not have one climate. Because Peru is close to the equator, the seasons are hardly effected by changes in the state of the sun. However there can be observed some differences between the months November to April and April to November. Due to very diverse landscape that Peru has, there are several distinct climate zones. The climate depends on the geographical location, altitude and sea currents, so we can divide Peru in three climatical zones:

Coast:Through the influence of the warm gulf El Niño off the coast of Peru are the summer months between December and April. The short summer is associated with small showers. The temperature is pleasant and between 25°C and 35°C. From April to November dominates the cold Humboldt Current along the coast and the temperature is between 15°C and 25°C.

Highlands: In the Andes a mountain climate prevails. The climate is fairly constant during the year. The temperature differences are mainly to do with day and night and the height at which you are located. In general; the higher, the colder! The climate in the Andes has also a dry and wet season. The dry season runs from May to October and air is often brightly. The temperature range is between 15°C and 25°C, depending on the height. At night the temperature drops quickly, to 0-5°C. The rainy season runs from November to April. It can rain for days during this period. The temperature differences between day and night are less extreme. In the afternoon it is around 20°C, and in the night about 5°C.

Rainforest: East of the Andes you will find the rainforest which covers most of Peru. In the rainforest is a subtropical climate. It is here all year round humid and temperatures will be around 25°C. The rainy season runs from November to April. The rains are generally short and after the rain usually appears the sun. In the dry season from April to November, there is much less rain in the rainforest.

LimaLima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. With a population approaching 9 million, Lima is the most populous metropolitan area of Peru and fifth largest city in the Americas. It is one of the most interesting and challenging cities in South America with a huge archeological, historical and cultural past. Most of its treasures might be well hidden, but are worth being discovered!

NazcaThe Nazca lines are series of ancient geolyphs located in the Nazca desert in southern Peru. They were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The high, arid plateau streches more than 80 kilometers between the towns of Nazca and Palpa on the Pampas de Jumana about 400 km south of Lima.The hundres of individual figures range in complexity from simple lines to stylized hummingbirds, spiders, monkeys, fish, sharks, orcas and lizards.

ArequipaArequipa is well known for its glistening white buildings made from sillar, a white volcanic rock, which gives its nickname ¨The White City¨. Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru and is surrounded by 3 volcanoes; El Misti, still active at 5822m, the higher and extinct Chachani 6075m and Pichu Pichu 5571m. The Incas highly respected these volcanoes since the melt water from the snow-capped peaks form the headwaters of the mighty Amazon River, thousands of kilometers away. Most people visit Arequipa to take a tour to the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons formed by enormous seismic fault between the Coropuna (6425m) and Ampato (6325m) volcanoes.

PunoPuno is located on the shores of Lake Titicaca and the mountains surrounding the city. The city is known as a jumping-off point for Lake Titicaca Tours. Puno is Peru´s folkloric capital due to its wealth of artistic and cultural expressions, particularly dance.

Lake TiticacaLake Titicaca is on the border of Peru and Bolivia and also the largest lake of South America. It is notable for a population people, who are living on the 42 self-fashioned floating islands called Uros. These islands are definitely worth visiting as well as Island Taquile.

CuscoCusco is a city in southeastern Peru near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. In 1983 the historical capital of the Inca Empire was declared by the World Heritage Site. Today the city is a jumping-off point for the Inca trail and famous Inca site Machu Picchu. Cusco got his name in a very special way; legend tells that in the 12th century, the sun god Inti looked down on the earth and decided that people need more organizing, so he created his first Inca Manco Capac, and his sister-wife, Mama Oclla. They came to life on Isla del Sol (Sun Island) way over Lake Titicaca with a long walk ahead of them. Inti gave Manco Capac a rod and told him to settle in the spot where he could plug it into the ground until it dissapeard: this would be the navel of the earth, Qosq´o, in the Quechua language, Cusco.Sacred ValleyThe Sacred Valley of the Incas or the Urubamba Valley is a valley in the Andes of Peru, close to the Inca capital of Cusco and the ancient Machu Picchu. The valley was formed by the Urubamba River. The star attractions are the lofty Inca citadels of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Pisac is known for its craft market, by far the biggest in the region. You can visit the market daily but the official market days are Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Ollantaytambo is an archeological site and dominated two Inca ruins.Machu PicchuMachu Picchu is a 15th century Inca site located 2.430meters above sealevel. It is also called ¨Lost City of the Incas¨ and declared by the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. In 2007 Machu Picchu was voted one of the ¨New Seven Wonders of the World.